There are a variety of bowls available on the market for pets & I am going to share my Input on some options. I will be sharing mostly about bowls for dogs & cats here. In future blogs I will share more about dishes for caged pets. My blog won’t talk a lot about cats, because I haven’t had a cat since approx 1998 when I lost my 18 1/2 year old cat BoBo(I had her from her birth to her death). I found out a couple years before she passed away, that I was allergic to her, my cat allergy is much worse now.
Plastic bowls are not something I would recommend because if a pet’s teeth scrap the bowl there is a chance the plastic could be ingested. Plastic over time does break down & pet food & water can get contaminated with the plastic particles. This being a potential situation, it isn’t worth the risk when there are better materials out there.
Stainless steel bowls are another option & they are what I use for my dogs meals. I have quite a few so can have a clean one for each meal if I haven’t done the dishes before their next meal. They are not heavy & easy to clean, & come in a variety of sizes. Some have rubber bottoms to prevent sliding & some are shaped so it is harder to knock over, the bottom rim is wider than the top. I don’t use for water as the taste can be different, some dogs won’t like it & in turn not drink enough. Link for 4 Stainless steel bowls https://amzn.to/3QkCtta. Stainless steel bowl with no slip bottom or turn over and use to slow pets eating down. https://amzn.to/4b32XJi
Ceramic dishes are another type that I like, I am careful to be sure they are not painted on the inside as I’m not sure what type of paint was used (could it contain lead?). These bowls are heavier & not easy to knock over. come in a variety of sizes for kittens, puppies & large & small adult pets. https://amzn.to/3Qih8Rl
A glass bowl is what I use for my dogs water in my kitchen, there is a ceramic water bowl in the basement. I like glass for water, it won’t leash & add any potential flavor to the water. I put a glass bowl out on the patio when its not winter weather. If your glass or ceramic dishes get chipped please replace them so your dog is not at risk of being cut. https://amzn.to/4gOw2cx
My dog Hunter wasn’t drinking enough water, so I talked to his Vet & she suggested I do a test. She asked me to put out 3 dishes filled with water. One made of each material: stainless steel, glass & ceramic filled with the same water & see which one Hunter drinks out of over a 3 day period. Hands down he chose the glass one, I personally would choose glass to drink from as well. I buy glass serving bowls at the resale store, I find they are pretty, can find any size or shape I need and they are heavy & they don’t cost a whole lot ($2-4.00)
Elevated holders for pet dishes became popular about 15 years ago & since then research has come out there is a potential health risk called ‘bloat’ in dogs that use them(A very serious intestinal problem that can lead to surgery or death). If a dog has a neck issue & can’t bend its head down then they may need an elevated platform for food & water. If your pet doesn’t have a neck issue then I’d recommend you don’t risk the chance of them ending up with bloat by keeping the dishes on the floor.
FAST EATERS: Slow feeding bowls are something sold if your dog woofs down his or her food. Check out the materials these dishes are made of. If they are plastic be sure it is a very hard smooth plastic as its likely to flake, or chip. There are options of silicone mats you put food in or on that slow down eating. There are stainless steel bowls that are wider at the base that you can use upside down & the food only goes in the rim. They have to eat slower as it is harder to get their mouth in the rim. You can & some water to your dogs food and let it sit for a moment & this can slow down eating too. You can also use a slow eating dispenser such as a Kong Wobbler or one of the many other items similar that are sold. Stainless steel Slow down eater bowl: https://amzn.to/3QlJme0 Kong Wobbler link: https://amzn.to/41ga25P
Echoing Great Pet Care 